Obesity: Causes, Risks, Treatment, and Prevention

Disease Insights: obesity

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Welcome to the ultimate guide on obesity. Here, you'll find answers to the most common questions to help you or your loved ones understand and manage this condition better.

Description for obesity

A condition characterized by excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and joint issues.

Symptoms of obesity

difficulty sleeping, excess body fat, fatigue, joint pain, shortness of breath

Precautions for obesity

Follow a balanced diet, Exercise regularly, Monitor weight, Avoid emotional eating

Questions Covered:

what is obesity?
What are the usual symptoms of obesity?
causes of obesity?
What are the potential risk factors associated with obesity?
How do doctors usually figure out if someone has obesity, diagnosis?
What are the possible complications that could arise from obesity?
What are the ways to prevent obesity?

Answers:

Question: what is obesity?

Obesity is a long-term (chronic) health condition that progresses over time. Obesity is defined by excess body fat (adipose tissue) that may impair health.
Body mass index (BMI) is a calculation that takes a person's weight and height into account to measure body size. Doctors typically use it as a screening tool for obesity.
In adults, obesity is often defined as having a BMI of 30 or more
, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Obesity is associated with a higher risk of developing serious diseases, including:
While BMI tends to relate to the level of body fat, it has some limitations as a measurement.
According to the CDC
, 'Factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, and muscle mass can influence the relationship between BMI and body fat. Also, BMI doesn't distinguish between excess fat, muscle, or bone mass, nor does it provide any indication of the distribution of fat among individuals.'
Despite these limitations, BMI continues to be widely used as a way to measure body size. This is because it's less expensive than other methods.
It's worth noting that the effects of weight discrimination can also contribute to negative health effects.
Obesity is common. The CDC estimates that 41.9%
of people in the United States had obesity from 2017 to March 2020.
Keep reading to learn more about obesity causes, risk factors, and treatment.
You'll notice that the language used to share stats and other data points is pretty binary, fluctuating between the use of 'men' and 'women.'
Although we typically avoid language like this, specificity is key when reporting on research participants and clinical findings.
Unfortunately, the studies and surveys referenced in this article didn't report data on, or include, participants who were transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, agender, or genderless.

Question: What are the usual symptoms of obesity?

There are no specific symptoms associated with obesity. A doctor may diagnose obesity based on the following factors:
excess amounts of abdominal (visceral) fat that are higher than the amounts of body fat in other areas
a waist circumference of greater than 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women
a BMI over 30

Question: causes of obesity?

Taking in more calories than you burn in daily activity and exercise ' on a long-term basis ' can lead to obesity. Over time, these extra calories add up and cause weight gain.
But it's not always just about calories in and calories out or having a sedentary lifestyle. While those are indeed causes of obesity, some causes you can't control.
Common specific causes of obesity include:
genetics, which can affect how your body processes food into energy and how fat is stored
growing older, which can lead to less muscle mass and a slower metabolic rate, making it easier to gain weight
not sleeping enough, which can lead to hormonal changes that make you feel hungrier and crave certain high calorie foods
high stress, which may trigger the production of hormones that cause you to eat more and store more fat
pregnancy, as weight gained during pregnancy may be difficult to lose and might eventually lead to obesity
Certain health conditions can also lead to weight gain, which may lead to obesity. These include:
metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high levels of triglycerides, low levels of HDL cholesterol, and excess fat around your waist that raise your chance of developing certain serious health conditions
polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that causes an imbalance of hormones called androgens
Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare condition present at birth that causes excessive hunger
Cushing syndrome, a condition caused by having high levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) in your system
hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain important hormones
osteoarthritis (OA) and other conditions that cause pain that may lead to reduced activity
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Question: What are the potential risk factors associated with obesity?

A complex mix of factors can increase a person's risk of obesity.
Genetics
Some people have genes that make it more likely for them to gain weight and body fat.
Environment and community
Your environment at home, at school, and in your community can all influence how and what you eat, as well as how active you are.
You may be at a higher risk of developing obesity if you:
live in a neighborhood with limited nutritious food options or with many
high calorie food options, like fast-food restaurants
haven't learned to cook balanced meals
think you can't afford more nutritious foods
haven't found
a good place to play, walk, or exercise in your neighborhood
Psychological and other factors
Depression can sometimes lead to weight gain, as some people may turn to food for emotional comfort.
Having disturbed sleeping patterns can make you eat more
during the day, especially foods high in fat and carbohydrates.
If you smoke, quitting smoking is beneficial to your health, but quitting may lead to weight gain too. In some people, it may lead to excessive
weight gain. For that reason, it's important to focus on diet and exercise while you're quitting, at least after the initial withdrawal period.
Medications
Certain medications can also raise your risk of weight gain. These medications can include:
corticosteroids, which may treat autoimmune disease
antidepressants
antipsychotics
beta-blockers, which may treat high blood pressure

Question: How do doctors usually figure out if someone has obesity, diagnosis?

BMI provides a rough calculation of a person's weight in relation to their height.
Other more accurate measures of body fat and where body fat is located include:
skinfold thickness tests
waist-to-hip comparisons
dual energy radiographic absorptiometry (DEXA) scans
other screening tests, such as ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRI scans
A doctor may also order certain tests to help diagnose obesity-related health risks. These may include:
blood tests to examine cholesterol and glucose levels
liver function tests
diabetes screening
thyroid tests
heart tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
A measurement of the fat around your waist is also a good predictor of your risk of developing obesity-related diseases.

Question: What are the possible complications that could arise from obesity?

Obesity can lead to more than weight gain.
Having a high ratio of body fat to muscle puts strain on your bones as well as your internal organs. It also increases inflammation in the body, which may be a risk factor for cancer. Obesity is also a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Researchers have linked obesity to many health complications, some of which can be life threatening if not treated:
type 2 diabetes
heart disease
high blood pressure
certain cancers (breast, colon, and endometrial)
stroke
gallbladder disease
fatty liver disease
high cholesterol
sleep apnea and other breathing problems
arthritis
infertility

Question: What are the ways to prevent obesity?

Due to a dramatic increase in obesity and obesity-related diseases, communities, states, and the federal government are putting an emphasis on healthier food choices and activities to help prevent obesity and treat people with overweight and obesity.
On a personal level, you can help prevent weight gain and obesity by:
getting regular moderate exercise like walking, swimming, or biking for 20 to 30 minutes every day
eating a balanced, heart-healthy diet composed of nutritious foods, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein
eating high calorie foods and those high in saturated and trans fats in moderation

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Conclusion & Takeaways

Learning about obesity is the first step toward taking control of your health. By understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatments, you empower yourself to make informed decisions. Remember to consult healthcare professionals for personalized advice and support.